Lasting machine



May 25, 1937. J. H. REED LASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 10, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet l y ,1937. J. H. REED 2,081,207

LASTING MACHINE -Filed Aug. 10, 1934 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 fizz/anion- May 25, 1937. I J, REED 2,081,207

I LASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 10, 1934 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 flitor/z 61/61 Z I LISJIJIZUGIZZQIF 3 a I I l Q 2 z 2 y 1937- J. H. REED 2,081,207

- LASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 10, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 M. (2km. la mmm, -L|

- HZ (for/219 61 J. H. REED LAST ING MACHINE Filed Aug. 10, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 jive/Zion ALQA vt/Q14 6750272 qys Patented May 25, 1937 PATENT OFFICE LASTING-MACHINE James H. Reed, Marblehead, Mass; Annie L. Hosmer administratrix of said James H. Reed,

deceased Application August 10,

1 Claim.

This invention relates tothe manufacture of cemented shoes, sometimes known as Ago or Compo shoes, in which the insole, upper and outsole are secured together wholly by a suitable cement without the use of stitching, tacks or other fasteners;

In the manufacture of such shoes, the steps prior to final bottoming have heretofore presented certain difficulties resulting in more. or less defective shoes. In accordance with the usual procedure heretofore followed, the upper and insole are assembled on the last, the upper being pulled over in the usual way, the shoe lasted either by hand or by the use of hand method lasting machines, and the edges of the upper (to which cement has been applied) secured to the insole by temporary fasteners until the cement, which constitutes the permanent connection between the insole and upper, has set. The temzo'porary fasteners usually comprise clamping strips which are secured over the edges of the lasted upper by means of tacks or staples. This lasting of the shoe and application of the temporary fasteners is a slow and laborious operation requiring highly skilled labor. After the setting of the cement, the temporary fasteners must be removed before the outsole is applied. Also, the edge of the upper, being somewhat bunched, must be smoothed down, and, due to its wrinkled condition and the lack of adequate pressure tending to causeit to lie fiat and smooth on the insole, the setting of the cement is uneven, resulting in more or less defective work. The uneven setting of the cement is further aggravated by the 5 time consumed in the lasting of the shoe and the application of the temporary fasteners.

In my co-pending application, Serial No. 705,- 576, filed January 6, 1934, there is described a method to overcome the above difficulties and a mechanism whereby that method can be conveniently practiced by simple manipulations requiring relatively little skill. In accordance with this method the edges of the upper are tightly lasted overand smoothed down upon the insole and held under adequate pressure until the cement has set, without the use of temporary fasteners.

The present invention contemplates the provision of an improved mechanism for the prac- 50. tice of the method described in the above mentioned co-pending application and also oontemplates certain improvements in that method and a mechanismwhereby the improved method may be conveniently. practiced.

The more particular objects of the invention, together with the preferred mode of carrying it into effect, will best be understood from the following description of the construction and operation of one form of apparatus in and by which 60; itcan be embodied and practiced, reference be 1934, Serial No. 739,247

ing had to the accompanying drawings. It will be understood, however, that the particular constructions and operations shown and described have been chosen for purposes of exemplification merely, and that the invention, as defined by the claim hereunto appended, may be otherwise embodied and practiced without departure from its spirit and scope.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings: in which,

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the machine showing the lasting instrumentalities in retracted position prior to the lasting operation;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 1, illustrating the positions of the parts after the lasting operation and during the setting of the cement;

Figs. 5 and 6 are sections taken substantially on the lines 55 and 66, respectively, of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a section taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2 showing an initial step in the operation;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Figs. 9 and 10 are views similar to Fig. 7 showing subsequent steps in the operation;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a portion of the mechanism; and

Fig. 12 is a section taken on the line |2l2 of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 3,'the apparatus as a whole comprises a bench I0 adapted to support the lasting unit, of which a plurality, adapted for interchangeable or successive use, may be provided. Each lasting unit comprises a base ll adapted to be supported on rails I2 constituting parts of the bench l0 and from which rises a frame l3 suitably designed to afford the necessary supports, bearings and guides for the several instrumentalities. These instrumentalities include a last support 34 (Figs. 3 and 5), a forepart or toe-part support 35, and wiper mechanisms including a forepart wiper mechanism 36 (Fig. 1) and a heel wiper mechanism 31 and side wiper mechanism 38. The several wiper mechanisms include a plurality of independently yielding spring fingers 39 (Fig. 1) of such number and arrangement as, when moved into operative position, collectively to engage substantially the complete margin of the upper of the shoe throughout the entire outline of said shoe, as shown in Fig. 4, wherein the forepart wiper fingers are designated 3911, the heel wiper finger 39b, and the side wiper fingers 39c. Brackets I4 extending from and suitably secured to the frame I3 are provided with suitable bearings in which a slide I5 is slidably and rotatably mounted. A depressor arm I6 is suitably fixed to the upper end of the slide I5. A collar H is loosely mounted upon the other end of the slide l5 between spaced collars |8a. fixed to the slide. The collar I1 is connected by a link |9a with a treadle 29 intermediate the ends thereof. One end of the treadle 20 is pivotally connected to brackets 2| carried by the bench H). The slide l5 normally is held in raised position by a spring 22, one end of which is connected to the treadle 20 and the other end of which is connected to a pin 23 fixed in the frame |3. A latch 200 is pivotally carried by the bench l0 and is provided with a notch 2M adapted to engage and lock the treadle 20 in its depressed position. The inward position of the depresser arm I5 is limited by a stop screw 282 carried by a collar 203 fixed to the slide l5 and adapted to engage a bar 284 extending between and secured to the spaced brackets |4.

Brackets 24 extend from and are suitably secured to the frame |3 and provide bearings for slidably and rotatably receiving a slide 25. An arm 26 is suitably secured to the upper end of the slide 25. A collar 21 is loosely mounted upon the other end of the slide 25 between spaced collars 28 fixed to the slide. The collar 21 is connected by links 29, with a treadle 3|] intermediate the ends thereof. The end of the treadle 30 is pivotally carried by brackets 3| fixed upon the bench H]. The slide 25 normally is maintained in a raised position by a spring 32 surrounding the slide and extending between the upper bracket 24 and a collar 33 fixed upon the slide.

The work support 34 comprises an upright post guided for vertical movement in a slide 40 and in a tubular barrel 4| bolted thereto and depending therefrom. The slide 49 is mounted in a guideway 44, formed in the frame l3, and may be adjusted therein forwardly and rearwardly to vary the position of the work support, being clamped in adjusted position by a set screw 45 (Fig. 3). The work support 34 is provided with a substantially spherical upper end 42 adapted to engage in a socket 8 formed in a last L. A pair of arms 42a extend laterally from the work support adjacent the spherical end 42 and are adapted to receive the top of the last L. The work support is normally urged upwardly by a spring 46 surrounding the post 34 and interposed between a collar 41 on the latter and the lower end 48 of the barrel 4|, said post being guided and held against turning by a stud 49 carried by said barrel and engaging a groove 5|] in the post.

The spring 46 tends normally to hold the work support in an elevated position from which it may be depressed against the tension of the spring by the presser. The latter, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, comprises the presser arm l6 which is provided with an elongated slot 5| in which studs 52 and 53 are adjustably mounted.

and adapted to engage the heel and forepart of the bottom of the shoe on the last L.

The toe support 35 and the forepart Wiper mechanism 36 are carried by a slide 56 (Figs. 2, 4 and 7) guided in longitudinally disposed ways 51 in the frame l3, said slide being movable in said ways to adjust the longitudinal position of the parts carried thereby in accordance with the length of the shoe being operated upon, by means of an adjusting screw 58 in threaded engagement with said slide and journalled in but held against longitudinal movement by a plate 59 (Figs. 1 and 2) secured to the frame I 3 and operated by a crank 58a. The longitudinal adjustment of the slide 56 is facilitated by the provision of a scale 205 carried by the slide and an index marker 296 carried by the frame |3.

The toe support 35 (see particularly Figs. 5, '7, 9 and 10) comprises a strip of flexible and elastic material, preferably rubber, secured at its edges, as by clips 69, to a pair of hollow supporting members 6| having ears 52 pivoted to each other and to the slide 56 by a pin 63.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7, the slide 56 is provided with longitudinal ways 13 in which is guided a slide 14. The latter slide in turn is provided with longitudinal ways 15 in which is guided a second slide 15. Secured to the forward end of the slide 14 is an arcuate guideway 11 having an undercut arcuate groove I8 to receive dovetailed arcuate slides 19 (Figs. 4, 5 and '7), secured to the forepart end wiper members 18 which constitute the operative parts of the forepart wiper mechanism 36 and by which the spring wiper fingers 39a of that mechanism are carried. The wiper members 18 are connected with the slide 76 by separate links l9 which are independently adjustable in length tovary the initial relative positions of the wiper members 18 in accordance with the swing of the last and to adapt the mechanism to right and left shoes. To this end in the construction shown each link 9 comprises two end sections connected by an intermediate section 80 having right and left thread screw connections with the adjacent sections respectively.

The slides 14 and 16 are connected by links 8| and 82, respectively (Fig. 2) with hand levers 83 and 84 (see also Fig. 1) pivoted to cars 85 and 86 projecting from the slides 56 and 14, respectively. By this construction the lever 83 may first be operated to advance the wiper elements 18 as a unit, with the slide T4 toward the shoe until the wiper fingers 39a at the center of the series have moved longitudinally over the extreme toe portion of the upper 12 after which the lever 84 may be operated to move the slide '16 and swing the wiper members 18 toward one another transversely of the shoe, thereby causing the wiper fingers 39a which are adapted collectively to engage substantiall the complete margin of the upper of the forepart of the shoe from the extreme forward end to the shank to move inwardly and wipe in said margin at the sides.

The forepart lasting mechanism above de-- scribed and which is carried by the slide 56 and includes the slides 14 and 76 and wiper members H1, is mounted for adjustment and operation in a single, preferably horizontal direction, while the heel wiper mechanism (generally indicated at 31 in Figs. 1 and 2) is mounted for angular and vertical adjustment with respect to the forepart wiper mechanism in accordance with the longitudinal contour of the bottom of the shoe being operated upon and particularly the angular relationship of the forepart and heel part thereof.

Referring to- Fig. 2, said heel wiper mechanism is supported by an upright or standard 31 vertically adjustable, in a tubular guide 88 formed in the base H, by means of a screw 89 and is held in adjusted position by a set screw 9|. The upright 8'! is provided with a bifurcated head 92 (see also Figs. 5 and 6) between the arms of which is pivoted at 93 a depending flange or ear 94 on a second head 95. Secured to the lower end of the ear 94 as by screws 96 is a segmental worm gear'91 which meshes with a worm 90 on a shaft 99 journalled in the head 32 and provided with a hand Wheel I00. It will be seen that by operating the hand wheel I00, the angular position of the head 95 may be adjusted while by operating the screw 89, its vertical position can likewise be adjusted. As shown most clearly in Fig. 6, the head 35 is formed hollow to constitute a casing for the heel wiper mechanism and is partly closed at its upper side by. a cover plate IOI (omitted in Figs. 1 and 4) secured thereto by screws I02 and cut away as shown at I03 in Fig. 5, to permit the presser stud 52 to engage the rear end of the shoe. The head or casing 95 is formed in its bottom with a longitudinal guideway I05 (Fig. 6) to receive a rib I04 (see also Fig. 4) on the bottom of the slide I06, said rib and slide being cut out at I01 to provide clearance for the rear end of the shoe. The slide I06 is guided at its outer edges on ways I08 formed on the bottom of the head or casing 05 and is itself formed with an arcuate way I09 to receive depending arcuate ribs I I on heel end wiper'members III formed with upstanding ribs II2 guided on the under surface of the cover plate IOI, said wiper members carrying the spring wiper fingers 3912 which are operated collectively to engage substantially the complete margin of the upper of the heel portion of the shoe from the extreme rear end thereof substantially to the shank. The slide I06 is. connected by a link II3 (Figs. 1 and 4) with a hand lever I I4 pivoted to an ear or bracket I I on the head 95. A latch member I I la is secured upon the lever H4 and is adapted to cooperate with a latch member II4b fixed upon the head 95 to lock the heel wiper mechanism in its forward operative position. The wiper members III are provided with segmentalracks H6 meshing with segmental portions II1 of pinions I I8 rotatably mounted on studs IIO secured as by set screws I (Fig. 6), in the slide I06. The pinions II8 have formed thereon or secured thereto coaxial segmental portions I2I which mesh with fixed racks I22 seated on shoulders I23 in the casing 95 and held in position on said shoulders by depending lugs I24 on the cover plate MI. The pinion portions I2I are formed with flattened faces I25 (Fig. 4) which, when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, errgage the flattened surfaces I26 on the rack bars It will be seen that by operation of the hand lever H4, the slide I 06 may be moved inwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 4 and locked in the latter position by the latch members II 4a and II4b. During the first part of this movement, engagement of the faces I25 with the surfaces I26 locks the pinions II8 against rotation on their studs II9 so that the wiper members III are moved as a unit without movement relative to each other until the wiper fingers 3919 at the center of the series pass over the extreme left end of the upper 12. Thereafter, engagement of the two pinion portions I2I with the toothed portions of the racks I22 causes the pinions I I8 to be rotated and, acting through the arcuate racks H6 swing the wiper members III toward one another transversely of the shoe to cause the' wiper fingers 39b to last the upper along the sides of the heel portion of the shoe.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 4, themembers and their range of movement laterally of the shoe, may be set in accordance with the requirements. The heads I20 are threaded to receive screws I30 which are freely rotatable in the socketed upper ends of the arms I3I, axial movement of said screws being prevented by set screws I32 engaging an annular groove I32a in the screws I30. Springs 3 are positioned in the socketed upper ends of the arms I3I and engage the screws I30 to retard the free rotation thereof. The free rotation of the screws I 3:! in the socketed upper ends of the arms I3I gives the side wiper assembly freedom to accommodate itself to the exact angle of the bottom of the shoe. By adjusting the screws I30 the vertical position of the side wiper members I21 may be adjusted in accordance with the requirements. At their lower ends the arms I3I are pivoted at I33 between 'the arms of bifurcated heads I34 having shanks I35 secured as by nuts I36, in slides I31.

By loosening the nuts I36 the shanks I35 can be turned in the slides I31 to vary the angular positions of the side wiper members I21 in accordance with the requirements. The slides I31 are in threaded engagement with adjusting screws I38 journalled in brackets I36 secured to the base II. By turning the screws I33, the slides I31 can be moved longitudinally of the machine to adjust the position of the side wiper members I21 longitudinally of the shoe. Pivoted to the arms I3I are latches I40 having serrated under surfaces urged into engagement with keepers MI on the frame I3 by springs I42, said latches having at their ends fingers I43 to engage said keepers and limit the outward movement of the levers I 3|. The latches I40 may be released by means of handles I40a fixed upon the latches I40.

The several spring wiper fingers 33a, 39b and 390 referred to generally in Fig. 1 by the numeral 39 are secured to their respective wiper elements by screws I44, and each is held in its proper angular position by a stud I45. Each of said wiper fingers is composed of resilient material, preferably spring steel, and is formed with an upwardly curved free end I 46.

It will be observed that the end wipers are all guided for movement substantially in single planes and that the side wipers by reason of the length of the arms I3I also move substantially in single planes when in engagement with the upper, the vertical component of their lasting movement being very small. In operating the machine, the parts are soadjusted and the last is so depressed by the studs 52 and 53 carried by the presser arm I6 as to bring the bottom of the shoe, and particularly the bottom face of the insole I41, approximately co-incident with the planes of lasting operation of the several wiper flanges in the regions of their operation, respeotively. This operation is illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 wherein it will be seen that, as each wiper finger 39 is moved inwardly over the edge of the upper to last the same, its curved end I46 will engage the upper and deflect the finger slightly out of its normal position, said finger by its resilience exerting a substantial pressure on the upper so as to cause it to stretch the upper and press the same firmly against the outsole.

Referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 11, the arm 26 supports a mechanism adapted to engage and stretch the upper 12 tightly upon the intermediate portion of the last. This mechanism comprises a portion I adapted to engage the edge of the forepart of the upper and a portion I5I adapted to engage the edges of the intermediate portions of the upper at opposite sides of the last. The portion I50 comprises a rod I52 extending through an elongated slot I53 in the arm 25 and through a hole in a plate I55 which is adjustably secured to the arm 25 (Fig. 11) by means of a set screw I 55 engaging the arm 26 and passing through an elongated slot I51 in the plate I55. The rod I52 normally is urged upward by a spring I58 (Fig. 2) surrounding the rod I52 with one end in engagement with the plate I55 and its other end in engagement with a washer interposed between the same and a nut I59 on the rod. The lower end of the rod I52 is fixed to a block I65 carrying rolls IBI adapted to engage the inwardly inclined portions of the extensions I52 of the gripper jaws Hi3 which are pivotally connected by a pin I64. The jaws I63 normally are urged toward one another by a spring I54. Guide plates I59 depend from the block I65 on opposite sides of the extension I62.

The portion I5I of the stretching mechanism comprises a rod I55 which extends through the elongated slot I53 and a hole in a plate I51 which is adjustably secured to the arm 26 by a set screw I68 engaging the arm 25- and passing through an elongated slot I59 in the plate I61. The rod I65 is normally held in a raised position by a spring 615 surrounding the rod and extending between the plate I61 and a washer I 1| interposed between the same and a nut I12 on the rod. The lower end of the rod I65 is pivotally connected to the intermediate portion of a bar I13. Rods I are pivotally connected at one end to the ends of the bar I13 and are secured at their other ends to blocks I15 similar to the blocks I55 and which carry rolls I16 adapted to engage the inwardly inclined portions of the extensions I11 of the gripper jaws I18 which are pivotally connected as by a pin I19. The jaws I18 normally are urged toward one another by a spring I68. Guide plates 241 depend from the blocks I15 on opposite sides of the extensions I11.

The method of lasting shoes by means of the apparatus above described is as follows:

The upper 12, including the usual lining (Figs. '1, 9 and 10) and the insole I41 are assembled on the last L, said insole being secured to the last by temporary tacks I49 (Fig. 1). The last is placed upon the last support with the spherical end 42 of the latter engaging the socket 8 of the former and with the last resting upon the cross arms 42a, and the various adjustments above referred to made in accordance with the size and shape of the shoe. The treadle 30 is then depressed and the gripper jaws I53 and I18 engaged with the edges of the forepart and intermediate portions of the upper 12. The treadle 3!] is then released. The treadle 25 is depressed to cause the studs 52 and 53 to engage and move the last downward to bring the several portions of the bottom of the shoe into approximately the planes of operation of the several wiper fingers as determined by the adjustments of the several wiper mechanisms and work supports, and the treadle is locked in its depressed position by engagement with the notched latch 200. This causes the springs I58 and I10 to .be compressed and tends to move the gripper jaws I63 and I18 upward to stretch the intermediate portion of the upper tightly over the intermediate portion of the last. The treadle 30 is again depressed so as to permit the gripper jaws I63 and I18 to be released from the edges of the upper. As the gripper jaws are released from the upper the pivoted members BI swing inwardly and cause the forepart support 35 to fit the upper snugly against the portion of the last adjacent the bottom thereof. Cement is then applied to the edges of the upper or to the insole, or to both,-in position to secure the edges of the upper to the insole. The several hand levers 83, 84 and H4 are then operated in the manner above described and the arms I3I swung inwardly, thereby bringing' the several wiper fingers into the positions shown in Figs. 4 to 6, and 10, wiping the edges of the upper over the edges of the insole, and lasting the shoe. By virtue of the arrangement of the parts and the means for operating them, the spring fingers collectively engage substantially the complete margin of the upper, wiping the same over the insole smoothly and evenly, the complete operation being performed in a very few seconds, before the cement has had an opportunity to set, and without the exercise of any considerable amount of skill or care. The operation of the wipers as above described exerts a considerable pressure upon the edges of the upper, pressing the same against the insole, but since the direction in which this pressure is exerted is substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the wipers into the position shown in Fig. 4, said wipers are maintained in this position until positively withdrawn by further operation of the operating levers. In the case of the side wipers, such retention is assisted by the latches I49. The pressure on the treadle is then released, thereby permitting the work support spring 58 to increase the pressure between the wipers and upper. The parts are then left in this position to hold the edges of the upper under pressure until the cement has set. If desired, during the setting of the cement the lasting unit can be replaced by another and the operations repeated. Under the relatively high pressure exerted, however, the setting of the cement takes place in a very short interval of time, so that ordinarily no change of units will be required during a run of shoes of the same size and style. The pressure exerted during the setting of the cement also causes the latter to set evenly, so as to secure the upper to the insole in a reliable and satisfactory manner, and also prevents the formation of any objectionable folds or wrinkles requiring subsequent smoothing. After the cement has set, the presser is again depressed to relieve the pressure of the last against the wipers, the latter are returned to their original positions, and the lasted shoe removed. When so removed the shoe is ready for bottoming without the removal of any temporary lasting tacks or other fasteners and without any further operations upon the upper.

I claim:

In a lasting machine having a plurality of wiper fingers arranged collectively to engage substantially the complete margin of the upper of a shoe on a last, means whereby the several fingers may be moved inwardly of the edges of the shoe over the bottom thereof, the combination therewith of a last support having a substantially spherical portion adapted to engage a socket in a last, and an arm. carried by said support adapted to engage the top of the last.

JAMES H. REED. 

